An Act To Ensure Accountability For Repairs Conducted By Independent Repair Facilities On Motor Vehicles Under Warranty

This bill requires independent auto repair shops (not affiliated with car manufacturers) to cover costs if they perform an improper repair on a vehicle still under the manufacturer's warranty, causing further damage or requiring correction. The shop must reimburse both the car owner for additional repair expenses and the dealership or manufacturer for their costs to fix the problem. Before any warranty-related repair, the shop must provide written notice to the owner explaining they are not connected to the manufacturer and that improper repairs could lead to extra costs or warranty conflicts. Failure to reimburse constitutes an unfair trade practice under Maine law.